Aerospace Systems Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons)
Study level: Undergraduate
Our Aerospace Systems Engineering courses develop the skills and knowledge required by graduate engineers to join the teams of aerospace systems engineers worldwide, designing and developing systems for the next generation of aircraft.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
BEng:3 years full-time4 years sandwich
MEng:4 years full-time5 years sandwich
Course code
H410 / H411
Start date
September 2023
Course overview
The programme aims to enable you to develop a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of systems engineering and how this knowledge is applied in the Aerospace Industry.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
- The course helps you develop a thorough, integrated understanding of mechanical, electrical and systems engineering and how this knowledge is applied in the aerospace industry. and you will have the opportunity to learn to apply your knowledge using industry standard tools and practices.
- You will be taught by staff with industrial experience, having worked extensively in the sector (Staff may be subject to change). Their research expertise ranges from aerodynamics, flight dynamics, aircraft structural analysis, crashworthiness modelling and avionics to human factors in aviation and is utilised both within the research-informed teaching on the course, and in the final year project.
- The combined theoretical and practical focus of the programme concentrates on engineering mathematics, mechanical, electrical and thermodynamic design, system simulation and modelling, control systems, aerodynamics, aircraft structures and manufacturing - all of which gives successful graduates a strong base from which to start your professional work in aerospace design.
Accreditation and professional recognition

Aerospace Systems Engineering BEng (Hons) is currently accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), as fully meeting the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration (subject to additional costs) and partially satisfying the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration (subject to additional costs).
The University’s accreditation with RAeS shall be up for renewal in 2023, and all student intakes up to and including the 2023 academic year should be covered by the current accreditation.
The MEng final year of the course was introduced in September 2020 and will seek accreditation by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) for fully meeting the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration. If the accreditation status of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
More than just a degree
During my time at Coventry University my life has changed in countless positive ways and I feel like my course has enhanced me with enough experiences to make a difference in the future. As far as engineering goes, the university has done an admirable job of preparing us for the highly competitive market awaiting us.

What you'll study
This course has a common first year.
In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.
We want your degree to fit around you, so upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).
Common first-year courses
- Aerospace Technology BEng (Hons)
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
We encourage you to learn through stimulating activity, such as a project, problem, scenario, case study or enquiry in a classroom, laboratory or work setting. When considering avionic systems, for example, we study a number of real-life case studies, including the design and development of hands-on Arduino based projects for aircraft data logging and control.
We aim to present aerospace systems engineering knowledge in an integrated way to reflect the multiplicity and interaction between many types of scientific, commercial, manufacturing and managerial skills and knowledge, necessary to produce a successful engineering product or system.
You will have the opportunity to work with current staff on real-world problems from industry, commerce and research groups, as you would in professional practice; this means that you can develop all of the professional skills at the same time as learning the technical content of your degree.
Teaching contact hours
We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:
- On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
- Group work
- Self-directed learning
- Work placement opportunities2.
The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 16 contact hours per week in the first year, reducing to around 15 contact hours per week in the second, third and MEng year as you become a more independent learner. In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study approximately 16-20 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
- Formal examinations
- Phase tests
- Essays
- Group work
- Presentations
- Reports
- Projects
- Coursework
- Exams
- Individual Assignments
- Laboratories
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International experience opportunities
The university is committed to providing a global educational experience and we encourage you to undertake a placement year or study year abroad after your second year of study. We will endeavour to support you in finding a placement anywhere in the world and in seeking financing for that experience.
The majority of work placements have been within the UK, but previous students have been placed in GKN Aerospace (Munich, Germany), Bertrandt (Hamburg, Germany) and Airbus (Toulouse, France). The majority of study abroad students have studied at high education institutions within Europe, including Aerospace Engineering at UPM, Spain.
Previous students on the programme have had the opportunity to gain experience of the industry first-hand through our exciting industry-focused field trips, which have previously included the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre in the US and Airbus (Toulouse), Airbus (Marseille) and Finmeccanica in Europe.
Please note that all UK and international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | £9,250 per year | Not available |
International | £19,850 per year | Not available |
If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Optional international field trips: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad)
-
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
All students have on and off-site access to, and receive training on, commercial engineering software, including 3D CAD, Finite Element Analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multibody Dynamic Systems for design, simulation and analysis.
Our excellent practical facilities include a full-size Harrier Jet (used for teaching), five full-scale flight simulators, wind tunnels, UAV workshop, flow and heat transfer labs, composites lab, metrology lab, electrical/electronics lab, fatigue and tensile testing (Instron), a range of CNC machinery, banks of 3D printers and a laser workshop4.

Flight Simulators
Our simulators create an exciting way to learn, with 61 channels of flight data which can be analysed to assess the accuracy of a students’ own design. The simulators are incorporated into an air traffic control environment.

Harrier Jet
Our Harrier T4 allows students to gain hands-on experience with the parts, tools and mechanical aspects of a real aircraft. It is used by many engineering disciplines to learn how an aircraft works and how to maintain it.

Model Making Shop
Used by our aerospace students to build model aircrafts. The workshop includes laser cutting, wood working and foam cutting technology to help bring our students designs into the real world.
Careers and opportunities
The MEng and BEng Aerospace Systems Engineering courses are designed to provide students with the opportunity to acquire the vital skills required to join the teams of engineers designing and developing systems for the next generation of aircraft.
The course is centred upon systems for aerospace vehicles and the requirement to design total system solutions including both practical and virtual design skills. Previous graduates have obtained jobs as systems design engineers for large aircraft and propulsion manufacturers as well as systems suppliers to the aviation industry.
Aerospace Systems Engineering graduates seek not only employment within the aerospace industry, but their problem-solving skill sets can make them highly employable within a variety of industries.
This course aims to produce graduates with the skills to become successful system-design engineers and engineering managers, both in aerospace and the wider engineering context, in fields such as aircraft and components design and manufacture, maintenance and testing, propulsion systems, flight simulation, aviation, avionics, patent engineering, financial services and many more.
Where our graduates work
Previous graduates have obtained jobs as systems design engineers for large aircraft and propulsion manufacturers e.g. Airbus, BAE Systems, GE Aviation and Rolls Royce, as well as systems suppliers to the aviation industry including Meggitt, Goodrich, Moog and Collins Aerospace.
Further study
For those on the BEng course, a transfer to the MEng course may be possible after the second year of study subject to meeting the entry requirements.
How to apply
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UK students
Full-time students applying to start in September 2023 can apply for this course through UCAS from 6 September 2022. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
Part-time students should apply directly to the university.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
-
International students
International codes:
BEng: EECU159
MEng: EECU163Full-time students applying to start in September 2023 should apply directly to the university.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
-
Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
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